Joanne R West

Joanne Rush West, 86, of Telford, passed away on November 2, 2021 in Telford.

Joanne was born in Gwynedd Valley to Dorothy (neè Savage) and Harry Rush on April 4, 1935. She graduated from Ambler Joint High School in 1953, where she played trumpet in the high school band and sang in the school choir. She married her high school sweetheart, Walter West, on June 8, 1957 in Gwynedd, PA. Joanne and Walt moved to San Antonio in 1959 when he was drafted to the US Army. In 1961, they returned to Pennsylvania and soon settled in Towamencin, where they raised three beautiful children and hosted dozens of Thanksgivings, Christmases, Cookie Days, Easters, and birthdays. Joanne loved to have her grandkids over to swim in the pool, and she could often be found taking one of her many beloved pets—especially Taffy—out for walks or taking care of the coy fish in the pond Walt built for her. Joanne worked as a secretary at Ambler Joint High School and then for the Wissahickon School District for over thirty years. She also volunteered with the Towamencin Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary and the Fraternal Order of the Police Auxiliary, as well as groups like the Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts when her kids were young. After she retired, Joanne became an active member of the choir at Christ Lutheran Church in Mainland. Later, when she and Walt moved into the Lutheran Community Home in Telford, she joined the choir there, as well. In addition to singing, Joanne loved to paint, play cards, watch birds, and research her family history and genealogy. She also loved to watch Philadelphia sports teams, especially the Phillies (even when they didn’t win, or when they said swear words on live television). Joanne and Walt loved to travel, and they visited almost all of the fifty states over the course of their marriage. They took road trips, bus trips, cruises, and all sorts of vacations with friends and they could almost always be found at a Cracker Barrel when it was time to eat. Her most favorite thing to do was talk to (or about) her family. Joanne was immensely proud of her children and grandchildren, and whenever she could, rain or shine, she and Walt attended sports games, music performances, horse shows, ballets, plays, graduations, and other events where she could brag about being Mommom.

Joanne is survived by her husband Walter, her son, Steve and his wife, Diane, her daughter, Amy and her husband, John, and her son, Scott and his wife, Bonnie. Additionally, Joanne is survived by her grandchildren: Sharon (Jonathan), Amanda (Donny), Eddie (Shannon), Sandi (Dan), Brady, Tim, Matt, Brittany, and Cody. Joanne was blessed to meet three great-grandchildren in recent years: Cole, Madelyn, and Lacey Jo. She was excited to find out that she and Walt were about to become greatgrandparents for the fourth time. Finally, Joanne is survived by various nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her mother and father and numerous good friends.

A memorial service will be held in December at the Lutheran Community Home in Telford. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made in Joanne’s name to Christ Lutheran Church in Mainland.